AO-2023-078IncidentClosed
Propeller strike during maintenance — Cessna 172, Parafield
| Date | 14 October 2023 |
| Location | Parafield Airport, SA |
| Aircraft | VH-PVA |
| Type | Cessna 152 |
| Source | Civil Aviation Safety Authority ↗ |
Summary
During an engine ground run at Parafield Airport, a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer was struck by the propeller of a Parafield Aero Club Cessna 152. The engineer sustained a laceration to the left forearm requiring hospitalisation. The aircraft sustained propeller tip damage.
Investigation Findings (4)
- 01The engineer approached the propeller arc while the engine was running contrary to standing ground run safety procedures.
- 02Parafield Aero Club maintenance procedures required two persons present during engine runs, but only one engineer was present.
- 03The single engineer was distracted when a radio call was received and attempted to reach across to silence the radio.
- 04Parafield Aero Club immediately mandated two-person ground run operations and installed barriers delineating the propeller arc.
Aircraft Involved
This report is based on publicly available ATSB/CASA data and may not reflect the complete investigation findings. Refer to the official ATSB website for authoritative reports.